Week One

One week - 200 km. My pedelec'ing has started well. I've ridden to work and used bike for all the other errands as well. Average speed has been around 23 km/h. That coupled with the fact that you often get shorter routes with bike compared to the car. So far I have been lucky and enjoyed good weather. Then again rain would not be that bad. You just need to have right gear with you.

Intuvia e-bike computer

My commute to work is 12.5 to 13 km one way and  it has taken 30 to 35 minutes. By car it takes about 20 minutes. When I ride the bike, I am outside moving in fresh air. I don't get the "morning rush" frustration that one can sometimes experience in rush hour traffic by car. I've not done the commute the easiest possible way so far. Little sweating, but nothing heavy like "all out" cycling would be. Granted I'm not in the best possible shape. I really haven't done regular physical exercises for months. So far I have not monitored my heart rate. I have not gone to anaerobic zone at anyone time, yet I have managed to maintain nice and constant pace.

Bike with the panniers

It feels safer to commute now with pedelec than my earlier commuting with bike. Or maybe it is me getting older and less pedals-to-the-wall attitude. When I used to ride the Trek Fuel major frustration was loosing the speed and then regaining it. E.g. you have to give way to a car yet I had right of way. I've also noticed that now I have no problem of slowing down to safer situational speed. This week I passed a mother with 2 small kids who were just learning to ride a bike. I slowed down, passed them by very slowly and safely and I was back at the 25 km/h with ease. In the old days of my commuting I would have just looked if there would have been room to pass them from the grass and passed them at some 30 km/h.  I did that a few times - well that is something you can do with full suspension XC bike, but it does not mean it is smart thing to do! I feel that one of the biggest advantages pedelec has in commute is the ability gain back the lost speed without too much effort coupled with the assist on uphill and headwind.

Front brake

Cannondale has 9 speeds, but with the assist on I have used maybe 3-4. So far I have not really gone down from Turbo assist mode. I suppose once I will start experimenting with the lesser assist modes I will be using more gears. Brakes of my bike are just awesome  Once you have experienced hydraulic brakes on a bike it is hard to go back. Rear brake is little squeeky. That is something I will be taking up when I will take the bike to the 1st maintenance after 300 km

Drive and Pedal

One thing is wrong with the bike: Pedals! I miss the sound click-click at the start of the ride. Clipless pedals are just right for any bike. And I can sense how much more effective the boost would be if I could spin properly. There has to be a way to use this kind of bike without being forced to wear special shoes with cleats.